One of the most persistent stereotypes about young people is political apathy. The survey findings challenge this notion: 36% of respondents say they are likely to run for political office. However, opportunity gaps persist. Globally, half the world’s population is under 30, yet only 2.8% of parliamentarians are aged 30 or younger.15 This disparity underscores the urgency of institutional reforms that create space for young voices.A generation ready to lead Likelihood of running for political leadership FIGURE 7 How likely are you to run for political leadership? 33.3% 30.6%24.5% 11.6%Somewhat likely Very likelySlightly likely Not likely at all Across South Asia, young people are driving a new wave of civic participation – mobilizing for transparency, fair opportunity and institutional reform. From local accountability campaigns in Sri Lanka to youth-led anti- corruption efforts in Bangladesh and Nepal, a generation once seen as disengaged is redefining what democratic leadership looks like. Amid this momentum, young leaders from the Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub launched Shaping Political Futures, a youth-led platform developed in partnership with municipal authorities. The platform channels civic energy into dialogue and collaboration – facilitating dialogue between citizens and government, supporting post-protest heritage reconstruction, and training aspiring young candidates through a political leadership accelerator. By coupling activism with institution-building, Shaping Political Futures demonstrates how young people can move from protest to policy – transforming dissent into dialogue and renewal. Its model shows the potential for youth-led governance innovation to strengthen democratic resilience, provided governments and civil society sustain collaboration and embed youth participation in formal decision-making.CASE STUDY 2. FROM PROTEST TO PARTNERSHIP – NEPAL’S SHAPING POLITICAL FUTURES INITIATIVE Youth-led dialogue is transforming civic frustration into constructive engagement. Youth Pulse 2026: Insights from the next generation for a changing world 18